When Heather finally saw a dentist he went pale and told her to go to the hospital as soon as possible

Two days later, Heather had an eight-and-a-half hour operation to remove the tumour.

Her mouth was cut open from ear to ear, her jaw was broken and the right side of her tongue was removed, as were all the glands in her neck where the cancer had also spread.

Doctors then cut a two-inch piece of flesh from her left arm along with a small artery and grafted them on to what remained of her tongue.

“It was a massive operation, but it is amazing what they were able to do – although they did warn me there was a risk that it might not take and that I wouldn’t be able to eat or drink again,” Heather said.